Sharjah Chess Club Opens in Huge New Premises
Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 


Interesting chess news from the Middle East states Sharjah just might now be home to the world’s biggest chess club – areawise! His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, opened on Wednesday, in the presence of Shaikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the new premises of Sharjah Chess Club, the world’s largest state-of-the-art facility for the mental game in terms of size.

Upon arrival at the club, Sheikh Sultan was welcomed by Shaikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation, Shaikh Saud bin Abdul Aziz Al Mua’lla, Chairman of Sharjah Chess Club, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of World Chess Federation (FIDE), and a number of senior local officials, chairmen of chess clubs in other emirates, and prominent sportsmen, according to news reports.
Shaikh Sultan took a tour of different section of the 34,000 cubic feet facility, including the main hall which can accommodate up to 500 players. Sheikh Sultan said the club will serve as a favourite place for young minds to spend leisure time in practicing the mental game. The first chess club in Sharjah was opened in 1979.
A brand new logo was designed for the club by Emirati artist Hisham Al-Mazloum recently. He is the head of Arts Directorate at Sharjah’s Department of Culture and Information. 

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